Nathan Aspinall Just Dropped a Retirement Bombshell That'll Shock Every Darts Fan

By Lewis Barnett 4 June, 2025 5 mins read 59 Views

Well, this came out of nowhere.

Nathan Aspinall just casually announced he's planning to hang up his darts by 45 - maybe even sooner if the money gets ridiculous enough. The 33-year-old Stockport legend didn't hold back when talking about how "absolutely obscene" the current PDC schedule has become, and honestly? I can't blame him.

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The £30 Million Dream (Or How to Escape Darts Hell Early)

Here's where it gets interesting. Aspinall told SportsBoom exactly what it would take for him to bail early: "If it's earlier than that, and we start making golfers' money and I've got £30 million in the bank I'll be off sooner." The man's got his priorities straight - make bank, then disappear. Can't argue with that logic.

But then he added the kicker: "But I don't think it's going to happen that quick. But 45 is when I'd like to bugger off."

Bugger off. Love the honesty.

Why the PDC Schedule is Driving Players Mental

This is where Aspinall really started venting, and you could feel the frustration bleeding through every word. The guy's been vocal about this for ages - teh relentless grind is killing these players. "Compared to even ten years ago. The calendar is absolutely obscene," he said, and I've heard similar complaints from other pros who are too scared to speak up publicly.

Here's the part that really got to me: "For us to take a weekend off, I have to pull out events so I'm losing ranking money because I just need a few days off."

Think about that for a second. These guys can't even take a weekend break without it costing them financially. That's not sustainable - that's a recipe for burnout.

The Premier League Grind Almost Broke Him

Aspinall admitted he had to skip events recently because he was "in a tight position in the Premier League" and desperately wanted to make the playoffs. The stress was clearly getting to him, and who could blame him? The man's human, not a dart-throwing machine.

Good thing he made it through though. Beat Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals, then narrowly lost to Luke Humphries in the semis at the O2. Humphries went on to beat Luke Littler in the final, which... honestly, watching those two go at it never gets old.

But Wait - There's More Success

Plot twist: right after all this retirement talk, Aspinall goes and wins the European Darts Open on Sunday. Beat Damon Heta 8-6 in the final, scooped £30,000, and became the first double winner of this year's Euro Tour.

The timing is almost comical.

His 2025 stats are actually pretty impressive when you look at them: 3 Premier Event quarter-finals, Premier League semi-finalist, 2 Euro Tour titles, plus a Euro Tour runner-up spot adn a PC runner-up finish. Not exactly the resume of someone ready to quit tomorrow.

The James Maddison Connection Nobody Expected

Random side note that caught my attention: Aspinall was recently at Tottenham star James Maddison's golf day at The Centurion Club with Joe Cullen. I love these crossover moments between sports - shows these guys actually have lives outside the oche.

Also mentioned there's "an army of Littlers waiting to breakthrough," which is both exciting and terrifying for the current crop of players. The young guns are coming, and they're hungry.

The Real Question Nobody's Asking

Here's what I keep thinking about: if a player like Aspinall - someone who's clearly still competitive and winning titles - is already planning his exit strategy, what does that say about the state of professional darts?

Maybe the PDC needs to listen to these complaints before they lose more talent to exhaustion. Because losing players like Nathan Aspinall early isn't just bad for the sport - it's a warning sign that something's seriously wrong with how the tour operates.

Twelve years might seem like a long time, but in darts terms? That's nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?

Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

How do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

Statistics

The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.

External Links

How To

Aiming Systems & Practice Routines

When I first started, I would just aim at whatever number I needed. But after watching some YouTube tutorials in 2018, I learned about the "clock" system. Imagine the board as a clock face. If you're aiming for the 20, but hit the 5, you're throwing too far to the right (clockwise). Adjust accordingly.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/darts/the-one-guy-who-actually-managed-to-mess-with-gerwyn-prices-head-and-it-got-weird